This is a blog about the people, processes, thoughts, and opinions about technology from Autodesk.

April 06, 2015

Artoo In Love: Lights! Camera! Fabrication Action!

Autodesk recognizes that the way things are made is related to the way things are designed. So even though we are primarily a design software company, we have our Pier 9 facility where employees can experience this first hand. Working on projects at Pier 9 helps put the CREATE in our IMAGINE/DESIGN/CREATE vision.

We're serious enough about this that the Office of the CTO has a handful of employees that engage in strategic innovation in a very hands-on way. They undertake projects that stretch the limits of what can be designed and fabricated using our software. Evan Atherton is a mechanical engineer in that group.

Though Evan is a mechanical engineer by day, he has always wanted to be a filmmaker. So he decided to make a film on nights and weekends. As a hardcore Star Wars fan, he decided to make a movie about R2-D2. Well as it turned out, his day job came into play. Evan fabricated what he needed for the movie. This included:

A working R2-D2

A mailbox (modified an off-the-shelf unit)

A one-of-a-kind wine glass holder

He was easily able to enlist others to get additional items. Did you know there are clubs that construct R2-D2 units and share tips on how to do so? Other Star Wars do-it-yourselfers pitched in with:

Not pictured but also on the project, Shara Esbenshade and Wes Walker and their production company TRUE MVMNT. According to Evan, "they're a huge part of the reason it looks as good as it does." The project was truly a family affair as Evan was Yoda-like enough to enlist the aid of his wife, Sargam Atherton.

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Artoo In Love: Lights! Camera! Fabrication Action!

Autodesk recognizes that the way things are made is related to the way things are designed. So even though we are primarily a design software company, we have our Pier 9 facility where employees can experience this first hand. Working on projects at Pier 9 helps put the CREATE in our IMAGINE/DESIGN/CREATE vision.

We're serious enough about this that the Office of the CTO has a handful of employees that engage in strategic innovation in a very hands-on way. They undertake projects that stretch the limits of what can be designed and fabricated using our software. Evan Atherton is a mechanical engineer in that group.

Though Evan is a mechanical engineer by day, he has always wanted to be a filmmaker. So he decided to make a film on nights and weekends. As a hardcore Star Wars fan, he decided to make a movie about R2-D2. Well as it turned out, his day job came into play. Evan fabricated what he needed for the movie. This included:

A working R2-D2

A mailbox (modified an off-the-shelf unit)

A one-of-a-kind wine glass holder

He was easily able to enlist others to get additional items. Did you know there are clubs that construct R2-D2 units and share tips on how to do so? Other Star Wars do-it-yourselfers pitched in with:

Not pictured but also on the project, Shara Esbenshade and Wes Walker and their production company TRUE MVMNT. According to Evan, "they're a huge part of the reason it looks as good as it does." The project was truly a family affair as Evan was Yoda-like enough to enlist the aid of his wife, Sargam Atherton.